Chaie



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

P. NOEL.

FOLDING CHAIR.

N03 335,037. Patented Jan. 23, 1333.

WITNESSES: INVENTORS ZZ W/ZZM" 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. NOEL. FOLDING GHAIR.

Patented Jan. 26, 1886.

WITNESSES INVENTORS: p 2; BY av/z %NEY.

N4 PETERS, Fmm-Limu m lm, Wr'elllnglon. u. c.

(No Model.)

P.1 IOBL. v FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 335,037. r I Patented Jan. 26, 188.6.

WITNESSES 0 INZENTORS: /%%W//6 ZWZQ BY ATTORNEY.

Nv PEYERS. Phnlo-Litlmgmphen wasnin tm D. cw

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4. I P. NOEL. FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 335,037. Patented Jan. 26, 1886.

N. PETERS, Phui0 Lilhogmphcn Washin ton. D. C.

PATENT rEicE.

PIERRE RoEL, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,037, dated January 26,1886.

Application filed June 5, 1885. Serial No. 167,755. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PIERRE NoEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in an improved folding chair commonly called an operachair.

Ordinarily in theaters, lecture-rooms, &c., the stationary seats are arranged in rows, to which access is had by means of aisles provided at intervals along the area of the floor. The rows are, however, placed so near together that when partially occupied they are difficult of access, and very frequently are reached only by subjecting persons who are already seated to considerable discomfort and inconvenience, in many instances compelling them to rise from their seats. This has led to a large demand at theatrical representations, concerts, lectures, &c., for end seats or seats in the aisle, colloquially so termed, and of these there are of course a limited supply. Moreover, seats in the aisle are not generally allowed, especially in the cities, because they obstruct the aisles when the audience leaves, and especially because of the greatlyincreased liability to disaster if it should become necessary to empty the house quickly, as in the event of fire or for any other such cause.

My invention consists in so constructing the chairs that they shall be self-acting or automatic, so that the moment the occupant rises from his seat the chairs close themselves, and thus in a moment the entire auditorium is practically freed from obstruction by reason of the chairs, innumerable broad aisles being opened therein through which each person can proceed in substantially direct lines to the exits.

The characteristic features of my improved chair are, first, each chair rests upon one stationary support and one movable support, which, when the chair operates automatically, closes up against the stationary support; second, the seatand back are both made in two pieces, which fold upon themselves, as the covers of a book fold, the seat folding upwardly and the back folding forwardly; third, a spring which upon the rising of the occupant of the chair causes the entire apparatus to act autothe chair raised, front elevation.

matically; and, fourth, a novel arrangement of levers and a cam, whereby the movable sup port is lifted from the floor during its movement toward the stationary support.

In the drawings the same letters indicate the same parts.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my folding chair opened. Two chairs are shown in this figure. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of my folding chair closed. Two chairs are shown in this figure. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of my folding chair opened. Fig. 4 represents aside elevation of my folding chair closed. Fig. 5 represents a back elevation of my folding chair opened. Fig. 6 represents a back elevation of my folding chair closed. Fig. 7 represents a seat of Fig. 7 is a View from the inside of a portion of standard A, showing the arrangement and location of bracket t" on the inside of said standard. Fig. 8 is a front view of the holding orlockiug rackbar and pin which prevents the seat from closing while the user is taking his seat. Fig. 9 is a detached View of the ratchet-like connection between the lower part of the supports for the chair and the stands on which they rest, whereby the chair is given its proper inclination relative to the floor. Fig. 10 is a view of the hinges which connect the seat to the supports or legs. Fig. 11 shows the method of connecting the levers L and K and the connecting-rod N, so that the movable support is held up from the floor while being moved. This view is alongitudinal section of the parts. Fig. 12 is a top view of a portion of the chair, to more clearly show the relation of spring 1? to lever Q. Fig. 13 is a side view of a portion ofthe chair, showing the arrangement of lever B.

A is the stationary support or leg, which may be made of any desired design and ornamented as preferred. It rests upon and is secured to a stand, B, which is screwed or otherwise fastened to the floor. The union between the support A and the stand B is by means of a semicircular ratchet-like part, B, (shown separately in Fig. 9,) formed at the upper part of the stand B, and a corresponding circular ratchet-like deviceis provided at the lower end of the support A. The teeth of these two ratchet-like parts or surfaces engage or ing forwardly, as stated.

interlock with each other, and a bolt, 0, passes through the stand and through the bottom of the support. Thus these parts, being brought together at the desired angle to give the chair its proper inclination relative to the floor, with the teeth of the ratchets interlocking, the bolt 0 being .screwed up, will firmly hold the chair in its desired position.

A is the opposite or movable support. It is preferably the same in design as the support A, and rests upon and is attached to a stand, '1), in the same manner that the support A does with the stand B. The supports A and A extend upwardly and form arm-rests, (seen at E.)

F is the back of the chair. It is formed in two parts, which are substantially halves, and which are respectively hinged on their outer edges to the upper parts of the supports or legs A and A by hinges e e, and they are also hinged to each-other at their meeting edges by hinges H, which are so arranged as to allow the back to fold upon itself by bend- The connection between the back and the upper parts of the supports is not so much a hinge as a collarlike eye, (shown at h,) which encircles the upper part of the supports A and A, as shown, upon which the parts composing the back, respectively, can swing. A pin-like projection from the collar h enters an eye fastened to the back of the seat, thus allowing a rocking motion to the back, to accommodate the sitter by giving the back the capacity of attaining different angles relative to the seat. These parts are best seen in Fig. 5.

G is the seat. It, like the back, is divided in two substantially equal parts,whieh are hinged to each other by hinges H, arranged so as to allow the seat to fold upwardly, and the outer edges of the parts composing the seat are hinged to the supports A and Aby hinges I. (Best seen in Fig. 10.) The hinges I are securely attached to the legs A and A by means of a substantial bolt or pin, J, which extends from one leaf of each hinge and enters the supports A and A, as shown. There is a downwardly-projecting tongue, t, formed on the leaf of hinge I, (see Fig. 7 which is secured to the bottom of the seat. A bracket, t", is secured to the inside of standard A, as seen in Fig. 7. This bracket is so arranged as to extend inwardly to formaspace between it and the standard A, so that when the seat is tipped, as shown in Fig. 7, the rib or tongue i will enter the space formed between the bracket *0" and the standard A, thus acting as a stop to prevent the seat from being closed, and the parts are so adjusted relative to each other that the moment the seat, when extended, is tipped up, if even so little as an inch, the tongue 45 will enter space between the bracket t" and standard A, Fig. 7, and prevent the seat from closing, thus allowing the seat in its extended state to be tipped upwardly and back against the back of the chair, in the same manner that solid seats can be tilted. The seat, when down and in use, rests upon and is supported by brackets 1 1, (best seen in Fig. 8,) cast upon the supports A and A, respectively.

The stands B andD are connected by means of levers or links K and L. They are respectively pivoted to the supports or legs by pivots 7c and Z. The lever K is somewhat longer than the lever L, and on its end there is a frame composed of two plates of metal, 0 and 6, with a space between them. space the lever K enters, and a pin, Z, passes through both plates and through the lever K, thus connecting the two levers L and K. (See Fig. 11.)

N is a connecting-rod, the lower end of which is fastened to the lever L by a pin, k, and the upper end is connected to the rear hinge, H, which connects the two halves of the seat.

On the lower end of the connecting-rod N, I form acain-shaped foot, 11. (Best seen in Fig. 11.) This foot is formed on the side of the connecting rod N which is away from the short lever K, and it lies between the plates e e. A pin, k, passes through the plates '6 e and the connecting-rod N, and the location of this pin is such, relative to the pin 1, as shown in Fig. 11, that the end of the lever K which extends beyond the pin Z shall have a bearing on the foot N and act as a cam on it;

It will be seen that during the operation of closing the chair, as the connecting-rod N rises, carrying the levers K and L with it, the end of the longer lever, K, will gradually move along the under side of the foot N as the pins 7c and Z approach nearer and nearer to a vertical line, and when they have substantially attained a vertical position, one above the other, the end of the lever K passes over the heel of thefoot N. By this time the longer lever, K, has attained almost a vertical position, and the shorter lever, L, then holds the movable foot up offfrom the floor, by reason of its being shorter than the lever K. By these means the leg A, when the chair is closing, is lifted slightly-say half an inch from the fioor-thus preventing the disagreeable scraping noise of the leg A against the floor, and wear on the carpet or on the floor, and also facilitating the carrying of the leg A to the leg A by avoiding friction.

O is a small curved and pivoted rack-bar. It is provided with inclined teeth 0 on its inner surface, as shown in Fig. 8, and it is pivoted to one side of the seat close adjacent to the edge thereof, as shown in said Fig. 8, by pivot 0. crotch between the two parts of the seat and engages with a pin, 0", which is rigidly fastened in the opposite half of the seat in such manner that when the seat is being opened the inclinedteeth of the rack-bar 0 readily move over the pin in one directioni. e., to open the chairbut will not allow the chair to close,because the moment that movement takes place in that direction the pin 0 catches in The rack bar extends across the Into this the teeth of the rack-bar, and such movement is thus prevented. At the end of the row of teeth, however, there is provided a recess or slot, 0 in the rack-bar, through which the pin 0", when coincident therewith, will pass, allowing the rack'bar to drop below it, and thus be disengaged from it. This can only happen, however, when so much pressure has been applied to the seat as to send it down to such an extent that all the teeth in the rackbar 0 have passed the pin 0 and this can only take place when the seat is sat upon, and it can never take place by simply drawing the chair out of its opened position by means of pulling on the arm or other part of the movable leg, as hereinafter set forth, because the pressure of the padding of the seat will prevent it; and, if necessary, a little piece of rubber or a spring or other suitable obstruction may be interposed between the edges of the halves of the seat, to render this impossible.

P is a strong spring, preferably coiled, as shown, fastened to the stationary leg A. It is also preferably coiled about a core or stay rod, for the purpose of sustaining it. The free end of this spring, P, extends toward the rear part of the chair and engages with the end of the lever Q, which is fastened to the half of the seat which is hinged to the leg A. The pressure of this spring upon the lever Q tends to force this lever downwardly, and consequently to fold the seat; and when the seat is opened, the lever Q being forced upwardly, the stress of the spring P is increased.

It is a lever, which is pivoted at It to the side of the leg A at its upper part. Its lower end, 1', engages with the end of the lever Q, and its upper end, 1", engages with an extension, 0", of the hinge or collar h, which connects one-half of the back to the leg A.

S is a small spring which encircles the pinlike projection from the collar h, and which tends always to hold the back in a vertical position, so that it will be readily acted on by the lever Q. As before stated, the back can oscillate to a certain extent on the pin-like proj eotion from the collar h, when open, so that it will comfortably fit the back of the occupant of the chair.

The operation of my improved chair is as follows: Assuming the same to be closed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the chair is opened by simply taking hold of the arm or any suitable part of the movable leg A and pulling it out sidewise away from the stationary leg A. This causes the seat to flatten downwardly and the back to flatten backwardly, the teeth of the rack-bar 0 allowing free movement to open the chair, they slipping over the pin 0, and the lever Q forcing upwardly the free end P of the spring P, applying stress to it in so doing, and the lower end of the lever B, riding on the end of the lever Q, allows the back to open freely. The levers K and L and connecting'rod N meantime act, as before stated, to keep the movable leg A from the floor. When the seat has been pulled out until the chair is practically opened, then the user lets go of it, and itwill be held in its then position by means of the teeth of the rack -bar 0, which catch over the pin 0". As soon, however, as the weight of the user is brought upon the seat, the two parts of the seat are depressed as far as they will go, and the rack-bar is sent so far over that the pin 0" becomes coincident with the notch or recess 0 in the rack-bar O, and the raek-bar then immediately drops out of engagement with the pin 0 leaving the chair free to close when the occupant rises from his seat. When this takes place, the spring P immediately and automatically closes the chair by its pressure upon the end of the lever Q, which throws the seat upwardly, and by the engagement of the lower end, r, of the lever B, with the lever Q, and its upper end, r, with the extension 1' of the collar or hinge h. The levers K and L being drawn upwardly by the rising of the connecting-rod, meantime lift the movable support A from the door, and the action of the spring P continues until the chair is completely closed, the back being folded snugly together forwardly, and the seat being also folded snugly together upwardly, and the movable support A. being brought close up to the stationary one A.

My improved chairs can be made separately, or two of them side by side, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the stationary supports being together in the center. This method I prefer, because by so doing the space between adjacent pairs of chairs when they are closed will present relatively broader and more commodious aisles for the exit of the audience.

My chairs are ornamented and upholstered in any desired manner, and all hinges, espe cially thosein the seat, should be substantially made and of good material.

I do not limit myself to the details of con struction shown, since it will be apparent to any one familiar with this art that many changes of construction and arrangement from those shown and described can be made, and yet my invention be embodied.

As illustrations only, other means than the described rack-bar and'pin may be employed to hold the seat open while the user is taking his seat; also, there may be more than one such device; also,other means than the coiled spring P may be used to close the chair.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, in a folding chair, ofa stationary support and a movable support, a seat and back formed in substantially equal parts hinged together at their meeting edges, and also hinged at their outer edges to the supports, respectively, and a spring, which, acting on one-half of the seat of the chair, automatically closes the same by collapsing the seat and the back and drawing the movable support up to the stationary support,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, in a folding chair, of a stationary support, A, a movable support,

IIO

A, arm-rests E, a divided seat, G, hinged at its meeting edges, and also hinged at the outer edges, respectively, to the supports A and A, a divided back, F, a spring, P, arm Q, pivoted lever B, engaging with arm Q, at one end andwith an extension from the hinge or collar H at the other end, the levers K and L, the one adjacent to the stationary support being the longer, a connecting-rod, N, provided with a foot, 11, a looking or holding device, 0, and pin 0", all combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, in a folding-chair, of a stationary support, A, a movable support, A, said supports both extending to the floor on substantially vertical lines, a divided seat, and a divided back, the parts whereof are. respectively hinged together at their meeting, edges and hinged at their outer edges to the supports A and A, respectively, the seat folding upwardly and the back folding inwardly, whereby the movable support may be shoved up toward the stationary support and the width of the chair reduced without lifting the movable support and without increasing the height of the chair or its depth when folded, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, in-a folding chair, of a seat divided on substantially a medial line from the front to the back thereof, hinged at its meeting edges and at its sides,respectivel y, to a stationary support and a movable support, and aspring which is put under tension by the opening of the seat, and which, when the seat is released from confinement, causes the same to collapse, drawing the movable support up to the immovable support, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, in a folding chair, of a stationary support, A, a movable support, A, a seat, G, divided on substantially a medial line from front to rear and hinged together at its meeting edges and at its sides to the stationary and movablesupports,respectively, and a spring, P, fastened to one of the supports, and which acts on the seat to fold the same, and a rack-bar, O, pivoted to one half of the seat near the crack therein, and which spans the same and engages with a pin, 0 on I the other half of the seat when the chair is partly opened, but when pressed upon is disengaged from connection with the pin 0 by reason of the recess or slot 0 in the rack-bar O, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

together at one end and to the movable and I the immovable supports at their other ends, respectively, the longer lever being pivoted to the immovable support, and a connectingrod connecting the seat with the levers at or near their point of connection with each other, said connecting-rod being provided with a foot, which engages with the shorter lever by a cam action, whereby the movable support is lifted from the floor during the closing of the chair, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

' 7. The combination, with an automaticallyclosing chair having a divided seat, ofa holding rack-bar attached to one part of the seat adjacent to the dividing-line between the two parts, and a catch upon the other part, the rack-bar having teeth or catches arranged at its inner end to engage with the catch in a partially-opened condition of the chair, and having a recess between the teeth and its pivot to pass over the catch in the fully-opened condition thereof, whereby the rack-bar holds the chair partially open while the user is taking seat therein, but is disengaged when the weight of the user comes upon the chair, so as to permit its automatic closure when vacated, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, in a folding chair having a divided seat, of hinges I, attached to the chair by abolt, J, the said hinges being provided with a tongue, t, which is adapted to engage with a groove formed on the support of the chair when the seat is tipped back when in its extended position, thus preventing the closing of the chair until the seat is lowered again, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 3d day of June, A. D. 1885.

PIERRE NonL.

Witnesses:

JOHN P. ADAMS, SHERWOOD S'r. CoNNELL. 

